[trial.misc.legal.software] Freeing software

larrya@well.sf.ca.us (Larry Appleman) (10/09/90)

How can I get information on the arguments against copyright and patent
protection of computer software?

Are there any papers or position statements from key proponents of
free software?

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
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Larry Appleman    larrya@WELL.UUCP        P.O. Box 214, Cambridge B, MA 02140

bob@MorningStar.Com (Bob Sutterfield) (10/09/90)

In article <21083@well.sf.ca.us> larrya@well.sf.ca.us (Larry Appleman) writes:
   How can I get information on the arguments against copyright and
   patent protection of computer software?

Get prep.ai.mit.edu:pub/gnu/lpf/* or osu-cis!~/lpf/*.  In particular,
see look-and-feel.texinfo, patents.texinfo, and lpf.join.

   Are there any papers or position statements from key proponents of
   free software?

In the GNU Emacs distribution, see etc/{GNU,INTERVIEW,MOTIVATION}.
Get GNU Emacs from prep.ai.mit.edu:pub/gnu/emacs-18.55.tar.Z or from
osu-cis!~/gnu/emacs/18.55/emacs-18.55.tar.Z-part-?? [aa-br].

bob@MorningStar.Com (Bob Sutterfield) (10/12/90)

In article <21083@well.sf.ca.us> larrya@well.sf.ca.us (Larry Appleman) writes:
   How can I get information on the arguments against copyright and
   patent protection of computer software?

I re-read this, noticed something I missed before, and thought I'd
make a small (though hopefully obvious) point.  The LPF argues against
copyright protection of *user interfaces*, not of *software*.  Some
members of LPF have even written software that carries a copyright
notice.